Chapter 32

Diana had not returned to our room until I had been fast asleep. I had pinched my thighs to keep myself awake until her arrival, but I was exhausted. Whatever had happened with my hand had left me feeling drained. Had I done it? I had focused my energy on my broken hand, but I had never been gifted with healing magic. Was it because the hot spring was a supernatural conduit that I could heal myself? Or was it the water that had magical properties, as Silas had said?

I did not know the answer to that. But when I woke the following day and noticed Diana sleeping on the other side of the bed, I pounced on her and shook her hard. She looked at me through sleepy eyes, and I recounted the night’s event. Once I was done, she sat straight up and inspected my hand with intrigue.

“Have you tried to use magic with your hand?”

I frowned at her question. No, I had not thought of trying. I pulled the sleeves from my shirt up and swirled my wrist, concentrating on creating a surge of magical current at the tips of my fingers. I felt the familiar tingle of magic, and soon after, a bright glow erupted from them. It illuminated the room almost blindingly. I snapped my wrist and extinguished the light. I saw white spots in my field of vision but was overjoyed because I had made something happen.

“Oups, I might have overdone it.” I smiled as I fell backward on the bed, rubbing my eyes to clear the spots.

“Might have? You temporarily blinded me!” Diana exclaimed.

I chuckled at her comment. “Sorry,” I mumbled in a not so sorry manner. I couldn’t stop beaming. She had no idea what this meant to me. I thought I would be broken for the better part of the rest of my life. Regaining full use of my hand was extraordinary.

“It will relieve Alexander to see this,” she said while blinking her eyes. “He worried that the fast-healing ability that he shares with you wasn’t working. I had told him that this wasn’t a simple cut. If he dislocates his shoulder, his ability won't pop it back in. It just makes the healing process quicker. I think you healed quickly considering what your fingers looked like not even a month ago.”

I also thought Xander would be happy. He might stop treating me like a porcelain doll.

“Did Silas see you get healed in the water?”

“No, he had his back turned from me.”

“Good, let’s keep it that way. Besides, we still don’t know if you or the water did it. It might be best to just let this matter rest for now.”

Diana got out of bed and shuffled towards the basin with water to wash her face. I opened my bag, pulled out a clean pair of brown pants and a white shirt, and got dressed. Diana came back and brushed my hair. She made two braids that she twisted and pinned around my head. It was almost giving me a crowned look.

“Thank you for staying with me, Diana. As much as I try to be brave, I’m also terrified. Having you with me helps.” Her usually stern look softened at my words. She patted my shoulder and turned her face quickly to hide a smile. She hadn’t been fast enough, and I saw it.

It was still early in the morning, so I roamed around the underground chambers. I wanted to familiarize myself with the tunnels and maybe get a glimpse of the library.

Although it was hot, I wore a thin cotton vest to hide my breasts and curves. I was already showing enough legs as it was. I didn’t want to reveal anything more that could give men the wrong idea. I had seen no women here, so I tried to cover myself as modestly as possible.

While walking, I had found what I suspected was the hall. It wasn’t anything like a great traditional hall, but since it seemed to be the most significant space I had come across, I imagined this served as a dining hall and meeting room. I couldn’t find a kitchen or anything of the likes, which most likely meant they brought food in from the outside; a neighbouring village perhaps sent bushels or wagons of food. Any meat would have to be dried, or they could boil it if they had a section of the hot spring hot enough since they did not permit fires out of fear of being discovered.

“Ah, there you are, Highness.”

Silas’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. There were two sets of feet walking towards me, so I turned to look who else was with him, and I was happy to see Gideon was following alongside him.

“I see you have already found our meeting place. The other leaders of the rebellion should arrive shortly.” Silas smiled at me. “You must be hungry? I’ll have something brought up to us while we wait.”

Silas got up and left the room. I nudged Gideon, who had sat beside me.

“Would you mind getting Diana? I would feel better if she were around.”

He tilted his head and pointed toward Silas's returning form.

“I think he beat me to it, although I think he means for her to work.”

My head snapped where Silas had come out, and sure enough, Diana was following him, head down, and her hands were balled up in fists. He gestured toward a passage and gave her instructions.

I looked seriously at Gideon.

“Have they been forcing her to work for them?”

He shrugged and became highly uncomfortable. “They have not had a servant maid in years. I guess they are using her to their full advantage. I had to show her around last night to work. I told them you wouldn’t like it, but they didn’t listen.”

I could feel my anger rising within. How dared the rebels take my friend and use her that way?

“So, you’re saying that she has been doing people’s laundry, feeding them, and cleaning up after them since yesterday?”

Gideon gave me a pathetic look in response to my question, and I slammed my hand on the table. Silas came and sat next to me. I scooted a bit on the wooden bench since I felt he had sat a little too close for my taste, but he just pressed himself closer to me, not getting the hint. I was mad that he thought of using Diana for their personal gain. We were guests here.

Once Diana came back, she placed a platter with some cheese and bread in front of us and made her way back to where she had disappeared moments ago.

“Diana, come sit with me,” I said firmly.

Silas looked my way in confusion, but I smiled sarcastically at him.

“Your Highness, wouldn’t it be better for your maid to be put to useful work?”

“She is, by staying at my side,” I replied curtly.

“Princess, please consider that this is no proper place for a lady such as yourself. We are trying to make this better for you. We have been living like dogs ―”

I placed my hand in front of Silas’s face to cut his speech. My smile had disappeared, as did my patience. I was past the point of being angry. My blood was boiling inside. I banged my hands flat on the table and lifted myself from the bench.

“Do not dare speak of your living conditions to me. You will find no pity within me. I have been orphaned, sold, enslaved, humiliated, beaten, whipped, and starved, with living conditions much worse than yours, Sir. Diana is mine, and I shall do as I see fit. I am certain that grown men can continue taking care of themselves without the help of my maid.” I hissed at Silas.

There was silence, and then there was an applaud. Gideon and Silas got up and looked at the entrance where four men stood, staring at the scene unfolding in front of them.

“There’s the Cardinal spirit who stands for what they believe!” Said a man at the center.

As he neared closer to the lights in the room, I gasped as I recognized him. He was one of my father’s advisors.

“Lord Junco?” I asked in disbelief. I had come to terms with the fact that everyone from my past had died. Seeing him alive and well made my heart soar.

Junco laughed and quickly closed the distance between us, taking me in an embrace.

“My dear girl, it is good to see you again. I feared they had killed you over the years.” His dark skin wrinkled near his brown eyes and at the corner of his mouth. I noticed that his once deep brown hair and whiskers were now peppered with white, mostly white at the temples.

“You were at the castle the day of the uprising. I saw you with my father talking in the hallway that morning. How did you escape?”

“It was not without hardship, Princess. I was with the king and some other advisors in the war room, looking over plans to expand our commerce further from the nearby countries when the queen barged in the room shouting, “they’re here.” Then we heard an explosion on the other side of the castle.

“Your father instructed me to get you out, but when we arrived at the library, it was in flames. I could see dead knights littering the library floor. They were not ours. We searched the area for you, but you were gone. We retreated and fought against the army that was invading. The castle was on the verge of being overrun. I returned to protect the king, but he ordered me to leave with as many citizens as possible.

“Once in the courtyard, we could flee, lining the ramparts and finally reaching the forest’s edge. After everyone was safe in the next village, I rode for two days and two nights straight to Mirra, but my city had been destroyed, as well as my house and name. No one had survived.”

I felt his thumb swipe a tear from my face. He tried to smile, but I could see the sadness in his eyes.

“We all lost things during the uprising, but we never lost hope of finding you, especially when we came to learn of your escape.” Lord Junco looked at Gideon and saluted him.

Someone cleared their throat, and a small man came forward.

“Might I suggest we get on to discuss our next move, now that Princess Cressida is safely in our hands?”

“Quite right, Count Robin. Let us discuss preparations for your wedding, your highness.” Junco said.

“My wedding?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes, to Lord Starling.”